Be Ready
Luke 12:35-40
September 15, 2019
If you’ve been with us the last few weeks you know that Jesus has been talking to us recently about the issue of greed.
• Greed expressed through coveting wealth (the man who interrupted Jesus)
• Greed expressed through hoarding wealth (the foolish farmer)
• Greed expressed through worrying about wealth
And Jesus has been very direct and matter of fact on these issues.
But this morning, if you’re following the sermon of Jesus,
It almost seems as though He just ABRUPTLY CHANGES THE SUBJECT.
He went from a warning about greed and in the very next breath
He starts talking about the second coming.
Transitions like that are always interesting and often difficult for me
Because it is important to me (as much as I can)
To have a good feel of the flow of the message in its entirety.
That being the case, let me give you my theory here
As an explanation for the abrupt change in direction.
I don’t think Jesus is changing direction at all.
I think it was that man in the crowd who interrupted Him who changed the direction and Jesus graciously answered Him and addressed the issue.
What you have in verse 35 is
Jesus returning to the theme that opened the chapter.
You have here Jesus returning to the original message of the chapter.
You will remember the setting and context.
Luke 12:1 “Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
• There was a massive crowd emerging and Jesus took the opportunity to address His disciples.
• And we talked about the warnings that Jesus gave to His disciples as this crowd showed up.
I want to bring those warnings back to the forefront this morning
Because I think Jesus is now returning to that message.
When that crowed showed up we got 3 warnings from Jesus to the disciples.
1) DON’T FAKE PIETY (1-3)
Very simply put the warning was in verse 1, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
• Remember the Pharisees were those who loved the crowds.
• They loved the chief seats in the synagogues.
• They loved being called rabbi by men.
They loved the praise so much that they actually faked their love for God and their piety before Him.
• They prayed in public
• They announced their giving
• They neglected their appearance while fasting
• They lengthened their tassels and broadened their phylacteries
But it was all a show, it was all a sham.
And it was their love of glory from the crowd that prompted all of that.
So Jesus, as a crowd showed up,
Warned the disciples not to let the crowd do that to them.
Because someday your heart is going to be exposed.
(2) “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”
• There is coming a day when the very hidden motives of your heart are going to be exposed.
• If your ministry is nothing more than an attempt to gain glory for yourself, the day is coming when that will be exposed.
So serve Christ, but don’t do it out of hypocrisy so that you can just impress the crowd.
2) DON’T FEAR PERSECUTION (4-7)
We talked about a second effect a crowd can have on a servant of Jesus,
In particular IF THE CROWD GROWS HOSTILE.
A hostile crowd or a disagreeing crowd can cause a servant of Christ
To fear their persecution and back away from his or her convictions.
So Jesus reminded them not to fear the crowd, but rather to fear God.
(4-5) “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
The point being of course that if you sell out for the crowd
You are still going to stand before God.
You are going to answer to God for how you serve
• So don’t let a crowd cause you to fake piety,
• But don’t let them motivate you with fear either.
You fear God. Don’t let the crowd intimidate you.
Don’t Fake Piety, Don’t Fear Persecution
3) DON’T FRET REJECTION (8-12)
Jesus began here by reminding of
The standard requirement for salvation.
(8-9) “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Now we know that Jesus is NOT addressing the crowd here.
Jesus is addressing His disciples.
And so this is obviously NOT AN EVANGELISTIC MESSAGE HERE where Jesus is trying to get His disciples to confess Him. They already did.
Rather, He is reminding His disciples of
The non-negotiable standard required for salvation.
Men have to confess Jesus as Lord.
And if you read on, you will see that this confession
Is that which is prompted by the Holy Spirit’s witness.
• Remember when Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ?
• Jesus told him flesh and blood did not reveal that to him, but His Father did
This is also the role of the Holy Spirit.
He reveals Christ.
He testifies of Christ.
Now, to some degree it was understandable that people who grew up with Jesus might have difficulty proclaiming Him as the Son of God.
• That is why Jesus said, “everyone who speaks a word against the Son of
Man…will be forgiven”
But when the Spirit of God testifies of Christ,
Now we are talking about supernatural revelation.
AND WHEN A PERSON REJECTS THAT, THEY CANNOT BE SAVED.
So what Jesus is reminding the disciples of is this:
• The requirement of salvation is that a person believe the testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding who Christ is and thus make a public confession of Him.
That has to happen if people are going to be saved.
If they do that they are saved.
If they reject that they are lost.
DON’T LET YOUR DESIRE FOR SUCCESS
CAUSE YOU TO LOWER THAT STANDARD.
We see that sometimes.
• We want a person to be saved so badly, or we want validation for our ministry so badly that we will end up calling someone saved who inevitably doesn’t believe the testimony of the Spirit and who doesn’t publicly confess Christ.
That is to widen the gate.
Jesus said, “DON’T!”
You speak the message of the Holy Spirit
And don’t change it no matter the results.
As God told Ezekiel, “whether they listen or not” you tell them the truth.
And that was the sermon and train of thought that Jesus was on.
He was having a heart-felt discussion with his disciples
Regarding faithful ministry on earth.
• And then He was interrupted by the man wanting a fair share of his inheritance.
• And Jesus didn’t ignore the man.
• He answered the question and corrected his foolishness.
But then without missing a beat
Jesus now returns to His previous train of thought.
So I think we can just pick up there as well.
We can add a 4th point to that list.
1. Don’t Fake Piety
2. Don’t Fear Persecution
3. Don’t Fret Rejection
4. DON’T FALL ASLEEP
That is, don’t grow complacent or negligent about your work either.
And that encompasses Luke 12:35-40
Which is the passage we study this morning.
Jesus is clearly talking about His glorious return.
He is talking about The Second Coming.
And certainly that brings with it the idea and concept of JUDGMENT.
As one commentator put,
“When Jesus comes back, He ain’t coming back to preach.”
There is a judgment coming.
Matthew 16:24-27 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”
Jesus is returning to this world to rule and to reign and when He does
There will be a payment made to men on behalf of how they lived.
Certainly this will be a judgment of the wicked
• As He will slay them with the sword that comes from His mouth,
But there will also be a judgment of the righteous by Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Everyone will give an account.
• Those who received Him and those who rejected Him.
• Those who follow Him and those who forsake Him.
• Those who confess Him and those who crucified Him.
We will all answer to Him when He returns.
And it is this event that our Lord goes to next with His disciples.
He has just told them
• Not to by hypocrites
• And not to fear persecution
• And not alter their message just to please the crowds.
Now He tells them to do all those things in view of the coming judgment.
And this has always been GOOD ADVICE
For the preacher and for all followers of Christ.
Paul told Timothy:
2 Timothy 4:1-2 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
Certainly the command is to preach the word,
But THE MOTIVE is to preach in view of the fact that
Jesus will appear, set up His kingdom, and judge the living and the dead.
Even of himself, Paul said:
1 Corinthians 9:16 “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”
• Paul understood his divine mandate and calling to preach the gospel.
• It was a strong mandate for which he must give an account before the Lord
• So Paul actually said, “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel”
He was accounting for the judgment
If he fails to do what he was called to do.
And even of those who lead the church today we read:
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
There the writer of Hebrews refers to leaders in the church
As “those will give an account”
Peter said:
1 Peter 5:1-4 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
There the focus is on the reward that is coming when Christ returns.
Paul said the same:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
AND SO YOU GET THE POINT.
WE WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT.
When the Lord returns judgment is coming.
There will be either punishment or there will be reward.
And every believer; every disciples
Should serve every day of his life in view of this coming judgment.
And that is really the focus of these 6 verses: BE READY
• (35) “Be dressed in readiness…”
• (36) “Be like men who are waiting for their master”
• (37) “Blessed are those slaves…[who are] on the alert”
• (40) “You too be ready…”
The point is obvious.
• Be ready for the second coming.
• Be ready for the day when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.
• Be ready for the King who will return to settle all accounts.
So let’s break this passage down a little this morning,
Just to help us understand it better.
4 points
#1 THE COMMAND
Luke 12:35
It’s clear
“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.”
“Be dressed in readiness” is literally translated “let your loins be girded”
In New Testament times you know they all wore that long tunic,
Sort of like a dress and it WASN’T CONDUCIVE TO MOVING QUICKLY.
If you needed to move or run you had to gird up your loins.
You had to take all that extra fabric and gather it up
And tuck it in your belt so that you could move faster.
And so the idea is simply that of being ready to move.
Jesus also says, “and keep your lamps lit”
The analogy here is
• “Don’t give in and go to bed”
• Don’t give up on Him returning.
If you’re expecting a return then be dressed for a return
And keep your porch light on for Him.
THAT’S THE ANALOGY.
And it would speak to a person who has
So given up on the return of Christ that he stops being ready.
And by that we mean, he stops living a life that is meant to please Christ.
To turn off the light and go to the darkness
Would mean to no longer worry about the life that pleases Christ
And just to start living like the world.
That is what Jesus is talking about.
It’s not all that different from what Paul said:
Romans 13:11-14 “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
Or
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
You need to be ready for the Lord’s return.
• Don’t slack off and fall into immorality.
• Don’t grow apathetic and fall into the deeds of darkness.
• Don’t ignore your mission of proclaiming His truth.
We must always live as though Christ might return this very moment.
THIS EXPECTATION OF HIS RETURN
IS A STRONG MOTIVATION FOR CONTINUED FAITHFULNESS.
And so Jesus’ command is simple.
Be ready at all times and don’t fall back into some sort of skeptical apathy whereby you think the Lord won’t catch you.
The Command
#2 THE COMPARISON
Luke 12:36
Here Jesus gives an analogy of what our readiness should look like,
And we are compared to AN EAGER SERVANT.
(36) “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.”
In New Testament times weddings weren’t as strictly scheduled as ours are today.
• You received an announcement of a wedding, but you didn’t know when it was.
• Then, when everything was prepared you received the formal invitation.
• The wedding feast itself could last up to a week, depending on the number of guests and how long the food lasted.
And so, when a man left for a wedding
No one knew with certainty when he might return.
And if you wanted to be a faithful servant to greet the master when he returned and to open the door to him
Then you had to be ready for him at basically all times.
But it’s even more than that.
The word “waiting” there is PROSDECHOMAI
It means “to look for with a view to a favorable reception”
It was the word used regarding Simeon
Luke 2:25 “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”
It was the word used of Joseph of Arimathea
Mark 15:43 “Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.”
It was even used of Jesus
To explain why the religious leaders were so angry at Him.
Luke 15:2 “Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Jesus didn’t just tolerate sinners, He looked for them.
He was eager to do it.
Well, that is the mindset of this faithful servant here.
He is eagerly anticipating the return of his master.
AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO GRASP.
Do you know what kind of servant eagerly anticipates the return of his master?
• The obedient kind.
• The kind that has done what he was supposed to.
• The kind that can expect to be rewarded.
1 John 2:28-29 “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
I think I’ve used the analogy before, but most of you will understand it.
My wife can be at home with our kids and doing her best
To mold them into useful contributors to society.
And there are days when things just don’t go according to plan and discipline is called for.
And Carrie will tell the kids, “Wait until your dad gets home.”
Now I have to tell you there’s not a warmer feeling in the world than to be a dad who walks into the house after a day of work only to see a couple of kids who are absolutely terrified at your presence.
They are full of dread and fear
Because they know my coming means judgment.
But suppose on that day my kids didn’t misbehave, suppose they did something really good.
• Maybe they cleaned their room, or mowed the yard, or baked me a cake or
something like that.
• And they are excited because they know they have done good
And Carrie says, “Wait until your dad gets home.”
Well that’s a whole different perspective isn’t?
So you understand then when I say that
The servant who eagerly awaits his master is the obedient kind.
• He knows that he has done what he was told to do,
• He knows he will receive the gratitude of his master.
• He is eager for his master to return.
And Jesus says that’s the kind of readiness we should have.
You should be ready for him like an eager servant.
One who can think of nothing more than anticipating the day when the master comes home to rejoice in the service provided.
The Command The Comparison
#3 THE COMPENSATION
Luke 12:37-38
Here is where Jesus spells it out.
“Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes;”
• Those slaves that didn’t sleep
• Those slaves that didn’t turn out their light
• Those slaves that didn’t forsake their duties.
Those slaves that stayed “on the alert.”
Those slaves that stayed ready.
Jesus says regarding the master, “when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.”
Isn’t that remarkable!
The master will be so delighted in the faithfulness of his servant
That he will take upon himself the role of a servant and serve them.
Of course you know this was FORESHADOWED in the upper room:
John 13:3-5 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
The holy perfect Son of God and King of the world
Is here serving those who follow Him.
When Jesus returns He will honor and serve His faithful followers.
And it doesn’t matter how late it gets.
(38) “Whether he comes in the second watch (9pm – 12), or even in the third (12 – 3am), and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.”
• It doesn’t matter how late it is when He comes.
• It doesn’t matter how far he traveled.
He will immediately honor those servants who eagerly waited for Him.
It will be priority to Him.
He will compensate them for their service.
And the point thus far is a wonderful one.
The servant who has served Christ well
(faithfully proclaimed His gospel)
Can eagerly anticipate His coming
Because there will be an immediate reward.
We keep it in the context of Jesus’ sermon.
• The servant who has not faked piety, but has lived with proper motives.
• The servant who has not feared persecution, but has feared God more.
• The servant who has not fretted rejection, but has faithfully preached the
gospel.
• And the servant who has not fallen asleep, but has served Christ
continually.
That servant can eagerly anticipate the return of the Master
Who will rightly reward him.
And so when you live this life,
Keep serving Christ, stay ready, don’t turn out your light,
And just know that you’ve got a reward coming when you do.
The Command, the Comparison, The Compensation
#4 THE CAUTION
Luke 12:39-40
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REALLY POSITIVE here as Jesus addresses His disciples regarding His return, but there is ONE WORD OF CAUTION here.
(39) “But be sure of this…”
There is something you need to know.
And to illustrate the point Jesus gives an analogy of
A MAN DEFENDING HIS HOUSE.
“if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”
Jesus speaks of the sad reality of theft.
• In His day a thief would often times dig through the outside wall to come in and steal what he wanted from a person’s home.
• It certainly was not a quick way to break in, and if someone was prepared for it, it would be fairly easy to stop.
But the thief always had one advantage over the homeowner.
THE THIEF GOT TO PICK THE TIME.
Law enforcement officers would have such an easier time stopping crime if criminals would schedule when they are going to break the Law.
Of course they don’t’ because they don’t want to get caught.
So the only recourse for the home owner is simply to be alert at all times.
You just can’t let your guard down at all.
A thief might come at any time.
And Jesus uses that reality as an analogy.
(40) “You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
This is the one thing that Jesus and a thief have in common.
You don’t know when either of them will show up.
And so Jesus said, “You too, be ready”
“ready” there is HETOIMOS
And it actually means “prepared”
And that is an important distinction.
You might ask someone, “Are you ready to go on vacation?”
• And if you are just speaking about their desire to get away, they might say,
“Oh yes, I’m ready!”
But if you’re asking “Are you ready?”
In the sense of having made all the reservations and having packed all your luggage then the answer might be NO.
See a person can be ready without being prepared.
And we see this in our day.
• There are plenty of people who have hardships in life and struggles.
• Maybe they have an illness, maybe money is tight, maybe they don’t like the way they are treated.
And you can ask them “Are you ready for Jesus to come back?”
And they will say, “Yes”
If for no other reason than it promises something different.
But the better question is:
“Are you prepared for Jesus to come back?”
There will be plenty who are ready who will find they weren’t prepared.
Luke 13:23-29 “And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘ Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’ “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. “And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.”
See those people were ready, but they weren’t prepared.
Do you understand the point?
A CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE BOTH.
• We are absolutely ready and eager to see our Lord because we serve Him
in a manner that pleases Him and we will gain a reward.
• But at the same time we are prepared to see our Lord because by faith we
have clothed ourselves in His righteousness and we know we are
accepted.
SO SIMPLY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS MORNING.
ARE YOU READY TO SEE JESUS?
• Are you excited and eagerly anticipating His return?
ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEE JESUS?
• By faith have you trusted in Christ and been clothed in His righteousness.
• Have you consented yourself to be His slave?
If you are not a slave of the Master
Then don’t expect to be well greeted by Him.
If you have not been a faithful slave of the Master
Then don’t expect a great reward.
BIBLICAL READINESS MEANS:
I have submitted my life to Christ to become His slave
And I am living my life focused on pleasing and serving Him.
That is what it means to be ready.
“for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
What a sobering reminder.
Remember Jesus told us:
Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
No one knows when it will be.
It can be today.
But one thing you should also know is that God knows when it is.
God has already determined the day.
Consider this event from the great tribulation:
Revelation 9:15 “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.”
It’s already on God’s calendar.
The year, the month, the day, and the hour when He’s letting them out.
And that’s just one aspect of His eternal plan.
The return of Christ has been set.
And the wise warning from Christ is BE READY
• Submit your life to Christ as His slave that you might be prepared by being clothed in His righteousness.
• And then serve Christ as a faithful slave so that you might be able to eagerly anticipate His return and the reward that will come with it.
BE READY
Revelation 22:12-21 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
